Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 33
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
तदनन्तर वर्षा करनेवाले मेघके समान मनु पापा-चारियोंको शान्त करते और उन्हें अपने वर्णाश्रमोचित कर्मोमें लगाते हुए भूमण्डलपर चारों ओर घूमने लगे ।।
tadanantaraṃ varṣā-karaṇavāle meghake samāna manuḥ pāpācārīṇo śāntaṃ kurvan tān sva-varṇāśramocita-karmasu niyojayan bhūmaṇḍale caturdiśaṃ paryaṭitum ārabdhaḥ || evaṃ ye bhūtim iccheyuḥ pṛthivyāṃ mānavāḥ kvacit | kuryur rājānam evāgre prajānugraha-kāraṇāt ||
Bhīṣma dit : Ensuite Manu—tel un nuage porteur de pluie—parcourut toute la terre en tous sens, apaisant ceux qui vivaient dans la conduite pécheresse et les établissant dans les devoirs propres à leur varna et à leur āśrama. Ainsi, partout sur la terre où les hommes désirent la prospérité et l’accroissement du bien-être, qu’ils instituent d’abord un roi, afin d’accorder sa faveur aux sujets et d’assurer leur bonheur.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prosperity and social well-being depend on establishing righteous kingship: a king is to restrain wrongdoing, restore people to their proper duties, and act for the protection and benefit of the subjects.
Bhishma describes Manu touring the earth like a life-giving cloud, calming sinful people and directing them toward varna- and ashrama-appropriate duties; he then generalizes that those seeking prosperity should first appoint a king to ensure the people’s welfare.